Two Fine Men Gone
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 1:29 pm
I have good memories of Ali and Gordie Howe. Both great ambassadors for their sport. May they r.i.p.
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Ali refused to serve in a war that has gone down as one of the worst mistakes the US ever made. He was stripped of his ability to earn a living (his boxing license) and banned from boxing from March 1967 to October 1970—from ages 25 to almost 29. So whether or not you believe in what he did, he did "take his punishment".Soignie wrote:Ali was a great fighter, but "took his punishment" I'd like to know how. At least the draft dodgers who left the country showed the strength of their convictions (to bad Carter allowed them to return). Ali made a fortune in a violent sport yet refused to serve his country because he converted to a "peaceful religion". Ali could have gone into the military as a conscientious objector as many Quakers have done through the years and served as a medical corpsman or he could have served entertaining troops as some celebrities have done in the past yet he made a fortune and enjoyed all the benefits of living in this great country which he refused to serve when he was called. God Bless Gordie Howe, he was not only a legendary athlete but he was a great human being.
Well said, God bless Gordie Howe.Soignie wrote:Ali was a great fighter, but "took his punishment" I'd like to know how. At least the draft dodgers who left the country showed the strength of their convictions (to bad Carter allowed them to return). Ali made a fortune in a violent sport yet refused to serve his country because he converted to a "peaceful religion". Ali could have gone into the military as a conscientious objector as many Quakers have done through the years and served as a medical corpsman or he could have served entertaining troops as some celebrities have done in the past yet he made a fortune and enjoyed all the benefits of living in this great country which he refused to serve when he was called. God Bless Gordie Howe, he was not only a legendary athlete but he was a great human being.
+1 and well said. 90% of the nation doesn't even know why we were there in the first place. When people refused the draft someone took their place. How do you think the parents of those who served and were wounded of killed feel about those who took what some would consider a cowards way out?ckirsch wrote:Slippery slope to have individuals decide whether or not a military conflict is worthy of their service when called, particularly without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Ali refused to serve while hundreds of thousands of others answered the call. As has been mentioned, he could have been a corpsman, entertained troops, or served in some other non-combat capacity.
He was clearly a great fighter, but I'm not sure he qualifies as a national treasure. He certainly fell far short of any veteran who served our country in combat.
I don't think you can judge another because Person A was drafted and served while Person B was drafted and refused to serve because he didn't believe in that war. A "cowards" way out is when Daddy buys you a (fake) deferment.mask wrote:+1 and well said. 90% of the nation doesn't even know why we were there in the first place. When people refused the draft someone took their place. How do you think the parents of those who served and were wounded of killed feel about those who took what some would consider a cowards way out?ckirsch wrote:Slippery slope to have individuals decide whether or not a military conflict is worthy of their service when called, particularly without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Ali refused to serve while hundreds of thousands of others answered the call. As has been mentioned, he could have been a corpsman, entertained troops, or served in some other non-combat capacity.
He was clearly a great fighter, but I'm not sure he qualifies as a national treasure. He certainly fell far short of any veteran who served our country in combat.
My comments neither glorify nor insult anyone who served in Vietnam.ckirsch wrote:Kennedy was first to insert troops there. Johnson further immersed us. I doubt that any of those who served in that war were particularly excited to be there. Their country called, and the vast majority answered the call.
You insult those who served and sacrificed in Viet Nam.